Fireplace-heater



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. H. WEST. FIREPLACE HEATER.

Patnted Apr. 14, 1896.

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NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

FIREPLACE-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming m of Letters Patent No. 558,134, dated April 14, 1896.

Application filed geptember 21, 1895 seen in. 563,175. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

7 Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WEST, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Manchester, in the county of Adams and State of Ohio,

have invented a new and useful Fireplaceljleater, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention relates to fireplace-heaters, and aims to economize fuel and utilize the heat to the best possible advantage and to provide a structure which can be applied to fireplaces and chimneys already constructed with but slight alterations, and which can be made to heat distant apartments or rooms overhead.

Other objects and advantages are contemplated and will be apparent from the following description and the drawings hereto at tached, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a chimney or fireplace constructed in accordance with and embodying the essence of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear perspective View of the fireplace having the drum removed. Fig. 4: is a horizontal section on the line 00 cc of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section about on the line 3 y of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the hot air drum.

The fireplace 1 has its back wall 2 formed of tiles 3 and 4, which have vertical grooves in proximate relation to their ends for the reception of the rabbeted edges of the side pieces 5. The upper tile 6 is supported upon the top edges of the side pieces 5 and the back wall, and its front edge terminates a short distance in the rear of a plane touching the front side of the chimney or fireplace, and this upper tile is of cast-iron and inclines forwardly and upwardly from its rear edge, and has a depending flange or curved'edge portion '7 to retard the passage of the heat, thereby utilizing the same to the best advantage. A plate 8 closes the space forward of the flange 7 and is formed with a series of openings 9 for the escape of smoke and gases. A second plate 10 is provided to move upon the plate 8 and has openings 11 correspond ing in position and size with the openings 9,

opening in the plate 8.. The openings 9 and 11 are of rectangular shape, thereby admit- 1 ting of a better control of the draft.

Vertical passages 13 are formed at the ends of the lower tile at and extend through the jambs of the chimney in the rear of the side pieces 5 and open into the hot-air drum 14. The lower tile 4 comes opposite the lower portion of the grate or fire-basket 15, and is formed in its rear side with horizontal channels 16, which are interrupted midway of their length by means of a vertically-disposed rib 17. Avertical groove 18 extends through the lower edge of the tile and comes opposite the rib 17 and forms an ingress for the cold air to be heated for distributing to the rooms 1 or apartments to be heated. The horizontal rib separatingthe horizontal channels 16 is provided with notches 19 at intervals in its length, so as to establish communication between the said channels 16, and this rib terminates short of the ends of the tile, so as to put the channels 16 in communication at the ends of the said tile.

Vertical grooves 20 extend through the top edge of the tile 4 and open at their lower ends into the topmost channel 16 and register with corresponding grooves in the upper tile 3 and form ducts to convey the hot air to the drum 14:. The cold air entering the vertical groove 18 is intercepted by the vertical rib 17' and is deflected to the right and to the left in the lower channel 16 and passes therefrom into the upper channel through the notches 19 and around the ends of the horizontal rib between the upper and lower channels 16. Thus it will be seen that the air is caused to travel in a tortuous path and is heated by the direct radiation of heatfrom the tile 4. The hot air passes from the upper channel 16 into the vertical grooves 20 and thence into the hot-air drum 14:. Some of the air will find its way into the vertical passages 13 and will be heated in its travel therethrough tothe hot-air drum 14..

The hot-air drum ll is of sheet metal, preferably galvanized iron, and is arch-shaped in cross-section and is placed immediately above the tile 6 and occupies the space immediately in the rear of the plates 8 and 10. The rear wall of the hot-air drum extends downwardly a sufficient distance to inclose the rear sides of the tiles 3 and l and close the open sides of the several grooves and channels formed therein. The pendent portion 21 of the hot air drum may be formed in sections or of one piece, and is secured in place in any convenient manner. A longitudinal chamber 22 is provided on the top side of the hot-air drum 14 and is divided by a vertical and longitudinal partition into parallel ducts 23 and 24:. An opening 25, near one end of the drum, leads into the duct 23, and a corresponding opening 26, near the opposite end of the drum, communicates with the duct 24. A collar or nipple 27 communicates with the duct 23 at the end opposite the opening 25, and a corresponding collar or nipple 28 communicates with the duct 24 at the end opposite the opening 26. Hence it will be seen that the collars or nipples communicate with their respective ducts at the ends opposite those having communication with the interior of the drum 14, thereby increasing the distance to be traveled by the air and insuring the utilization of the last traces of heat for efficient service. A vertical partition 29 divides the hotair drum into two compartments, each of which is in communication with the respective duct of the longitudinal chamber 22. Pipes 30 and 3.1 communicate or make connection at their lower ends with the collars or nipples 27 and 28 and extend to the required point at which it is desired to utilize the heat. As shown these pipes 30 and 31 extend vertically through the chimney and open through the sides thereof, so as to heat upper rooms arranged on opposite sides of the chimney. Suitable registers will be provided for controlling the admission of the hot air into the room in the usual manner. A register 32 may be arranged in the front side of the chimney for heating or ventilating the room in which the fireplace-heater is located.

Then applying the invention to chimneys or fireplaces already constructed the hot-air drum 14 is properly adjusted, the back wall and the side pieces placed in position substantially as shown, the upper tile and the plates 8 and 10 adjusted in the manner herein referred to, and the hot-air pipes 30 and 31 are arranged so as to convey the heated air to the required point for using. It is not essential that these steps be followed in the order recited, so long as the fireplace when completed will assume the form and relative disposition of its parts substantially as herein described.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. A fireplace closed at its top by a fixed tile whose front edge portion curves downwardly and terminates a short distance in the rear of a plane touching the front side of the said fireplace, a stationary plate closing the space forward of the curved edge of the said tile and having a series of openings, a second plate arranged. to slide upon the first-mentioned plate and provided with openings to correspond in position and size therewith, and a hot-air drum placed immediately over the said tile and the rear portion of the sta tionary plate and closed at its lower end thereby, substantially as shown and described.

2. A fireplace having formed in the rear side of its back wall horizontal channels which are interrupted about midway of their length by a vertical rib, the portion separating the said channels being notched at intervals in its length to establish communication between the two channels, and having a vertical groove opposite the said vertical rib for supplying cold air to the lower horizontal channel, and having vertical grooves leading from the upper horizontal channel, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

3. The combination with a fireplace-heater having vertical passages in the rear of its sides, and having horizontal channels and vertical grooves in its back wall which are in communication, of a hot-air drum arranged above the fireplace and adapted to receive the hot air from the vertical passages and grooves, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

4. The combination with a fireplace-heater having hot-air passages in its walls, of a hotair drum arranged above the fireplace and adapted to receive the hot air from the said passages, parallel ducts extending longitudt nally of the hot-air drum and communicating therewith at their opposite ends, and hot-air pipes having attachment with the said ducts at the ends opposite to those having communication with the said hot-air drum, substantially as described for the purpose specified.

5. A fireplace-heater having its top terminating short of the front of the fireplace and formed with a pendent portion or flange, and having horizontal channels and vertical grooves in the rear side of its back wall arranged to form a tortuous path for the air to be heated, and having vertical passages in the rear of its sides, a plate closing the space forward of the top and formed with a series of openings, a second plate having correspon ding openings and adapted to slide upon the first-mentioned plate, a hot-air drum arranged above the fireplace and in the rear of the damper-plates and having its rear wall extending so as to close the open sides of the grooves and channels in the back wall, parailel ducts on the top side of the hot-air drum and communicating therewith at opposite ends, and hot-air pipes communicating with the said ducts at the ends opposite to those opening into the hot-air drum, substantially as set forth for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 10 the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE H. WEST. \Vitnesses J 0s. J. THOMAS, WM. GREENLEE. 

